GS: The pitcher's projected "Game Score," from Bill James' original formula, which accounts for past history (three years' worth as well as past 21 days), opponent and ballpark. A Game Score of 50 typically is typically regarded a quality start; anything over 70 is exceptional, anything under 30 poor. A "*" means that the pitcher lacks requisite career major league data to produce an accurate projected Game Score; these are the author's projections. T: Pitcher throws left-handed or right-handed. Opp: The pitcher's opponent for the day. W-L: Pitcher's win-loss record. ERA: Pitcher's earned run average. WHIP: Pitcher's average number of walks plus hits surrendered per inning.

Corey Kluber (47 percent ESPN.com ownership) has seen his ownership more than double since I recommended him five days ago in Daily Notes, but he's still on more ESPN.com waiver wires than fantasy rosters, so I get to gush about him again. Over the past four starts, the right-hander has 38 strikeouts in 28 1/3 innings, which translates to an incredible 12.1 K/9. He also has a 1.91 ERA and 1.06 WHIP during this stretch where opponents have a .243 wOBA and are 5-for-48 with 25 strikeouts against Kluber's off-speed stuff (changeup, curve and slider). Although he did not pitch well (6 2/3 IP, 9 H, 4 ER) on April 19 in his first career start against the Toronto Blue Jays (his Wednesday opponent), the Jays have been susceptible to the strikeout over the past week, posting 57 K's in seven contests (8.1 per game). Kluber should also get plenty of run support with his team facing Dustin McGowan, who has doubled for a JUGS machine at Rogers Centre this year with a frightening 9.26 ERA, 2.06 WHIP and 1.091 opponent OPS in three starts. Kluber is a worthy start in all fantasy formats for this matchup.

Ian Kennedy (49.6 percent ESPN.com ownership) is another great strikeout pitcher who is owned in way too few fantasy leagues. Not only is he producing a career-high 10.3 K/9 this season, but his walk rate is also a career-best at 2.0 BB/9. And before you write this off as a small sample size aided by Petco Park, consider that his road numbers (1.42 ERA, 0.74 WHIP) are way better than how he's fared in San Diego (4.20 ERA, 1.30 WHIP). He'll try to improve upon those road numbers on Wednesday when he visits a Cincinnati Reds team that he has thoroughly dominated during his career. In four starts against them -- all since 2011 -- Kennedy is 3-0 with a 1.53 ERA and 0.89 WHIP while holding the Reds to a pathetic slash line of .111/.172/.222. Although he's unlikely to outduel Johnny Cueto, Kennedy should be rostered in all fantasy leagues from here on out.

Like Kluber, Jason Vargas (25.8 percent ESPN.com ownership) also made me look good five days ago in Daily Notes, as he blanked the Seattle Mariners for seven innings while allowing just three hits and no walks with six strikeouts. I'm not expecting a repeat performance against the powerful Colorado Rockies, but the game is not at Coors Field, and the Rox are batting only .230 with a .293 OBP in their past four road contests. Vargas has tossed six quality starts in eight tries this season, thanks to a career-best 1.7 walk rate. Although this is a bit of a risky play against a potent lineup, I think Vargas will toss another quality start and outpitch mound opponent Jhoulys Chacin, who is 1-5 with a 4.15 ERA and 1.55 WHIP versus American League opponents in his career.

When Tommy Milone (0.3 percent ESPN.com ownership) toes the rubber at O.co Coliseum, I always give him consideration for a spot start. On Friday, he tossed eight scoreless innings of two-hit ball with seven strikeouts versus the Washington Nationals at home. And in three seasons with the Oakland Athletics, he has treated the home fans to a 13-8 record, 2.94 ERA and 1.13 WHIP. The A's faithful should enjoy Wednesday's game as well, when Milone faces a Chicago White Sox team that he has completely owned. In two career starts versus the White Sox, Milone has an unbelievable pitching line: 15 IP, 7 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 12 K's. And when considering that Chicago has the AL's worst well-hit average (.114) versus left-handed pitching this season, you can see why I think Milone will pitch another great game on Wednesday.

Hitter matchup ratings for May 14

Hitter Ratings

Hitter Ratings

Team

Overall

LHB

RHB

Steals

Team

Overall

LHB

RHB

Steals

5

5

4

6

3

1

6

4

1

1

3

6

5

3

6

4

3

3

3

8

3

1

4

4

6

7

6

4

4

4

4

6

1

1

2

1

6

8

4

6

4

3

4

5

4

6

2

7

6

5

6

5

4

4

3

6

5

7

4

7

4

6

2

6

4

1

5

2

1

1

2

5

5

5

5

3

1

3

1

5

6

7

4

4

7

9

5

3

6

7

4

5

7

10

5

5

3

6

1

7

4

5

3

8

4

4

4

7

5

6

3

2

5

1

7

5

5

5

5

1

Hitter ratings account for the opposing starting pitcher's past history (three years' worth as well as past 21 days) as well as ballpark factors. "LHB" and "RHB" ratings account only for left- and right-handed batters, respectively. Weighted on-base average (wOBA) is the primary statistic used in the calculation. Ratings range from 1-10, with 10 representing the best possible matchup, statistically speaking, and 1 representing the worst. So, for example, a 10 is a must-start rating, while a 1 should be avoided (if possible); a 1-2 is poor, 3-4 is fair, 5-6 is average, 7-8 is very good and 9-10 is excellent. A "*" means that the pitcher lacks requisite career major league data to produce an accurate hitter rating; these are the author's ratings.

Our hitter ratings are showing that left-handed bats will be smoking in Wednesday's game between the Tampa Bay Rays and Seattle Mariners, which features struggling starting pitchers Jake Odorizzi and Brandon Maurer. For the Rays, spend your fake dollars on OF Matt Joyce (.884 OPS, 3 HR, 18 RBIs vs. RHP), 1B James Loney (.831 OPS, 15 RBIs vs. RHP; 1.136 OPS, three doubles in past seven road games) and OF David DeJesus (.824 OPS, 3 HR, 13 RBIs vs. RHP), who has a whopping 1.118 OPS and four doubles during a current eight-game hit streak.

Left-handed hitters have pounded Odorizzi this season with a slash line of .321/.367/.531, while producing a hefty .381 wOBA. This should have M's lefties licking their chops, in particular 3B Kyle Seager (.958 OPS, 6 HR, 18 RBIs in 80 at-bats vs. RHP) and 2B Robinson Cano (.300/.351/.400 slash line vs. RHP). AL-only leaguers and daily gamers also need to consider red-hot OF James Jones, who has a .983 OPS in his first 10 major league games, including going 2-for-5 versus southpaws.

Another set of left-handed hitters to pounce on are the Oakland Athletics facing Andre Rienzo. The right-hander has given up a .510 slugging percentage to lefties this season with more walks (eight) than strikeouts (five) in these 58 plate appearances. The A's have two lefty hitters who have a slugging percentage over .450 versus right-handed pitching this season, including C John Jaso (.486 SLG, .379 wOBA, 3 HR vs. RHP) and 1B Brandon Moss (.466 SLG, .348 wOBA, 5 HR, 24 RBIs in 103 at-bats vs. RHP). Both players are also mashing in May, as Jaso has a 1.298 OPS and two homers, while Moss has an .863 OPS and two dingers.

Francisco Liriano has induced a miss on 33 percent of swings against him this season, the second-highest rate among qualifiers. The Milwaukee Brewers have missed on 25 percent of their swings this season, the third-highest rate in baseball.

Masahiro Tanaka has thrown 54 percent of his pitches this season in the lower third of the strike zone or below, the seventh-highest rate among qualifiers. New York Mets hitters have compiled a .198 batting average this season in at-bats that end in a pitch in that zone, the sixth-worst mark in the league.

The Phillies have the fourth-highest ISO this season in at-bats that end in a fastball of at least 95 mph (.168). Garrett Richards' average fastball velocity this season has been 95.8 mph.

The Colorado Rockies are hitting .425 this season in at-bats that end in a lefty changeup, the second-highest rate in the league. Jason Vargas has thrown the highest percentage of changeups this season among qualified starters (31 percent).

On the shelf:

Jose Fernandez, SP, Miami Marlins: He was placed on the 15-day DL on Monday, and his season is likely over with reports that he has a torn UCL and will require Tommy John surgery.

Carlos Beltran, OF, New York Yankees: He hyperextended his right elbow while taking batting-cage swings in between at-bats on Monday and has been diagnosed with a bone spur. It's unclear how long Beltran will be out.

Colby Rasmus, OF, Toronto Blue Jays: He left Monday's game with a tight right hamstring and will miss the next two to three games. Manager John Gibbons is worried that Rasmus could need a stint on the 15-day DL.

Rick Porcello, SP, Detroit Tigers: He experienced tightness on his side in Monday's start and was pulled after six innings for precautionary reasons. The team doesn't think this is a serious injury and expects Porcello to make his next start.

Ichiro Suzuki, OF, Yankees: He injured his knee and back while diving for a ball on Sunday and missed Monday's game. However, Ichiro should only need another day or two before rejoining the lineup.

CC Sabathia, SP, Yankees: He landed on the 15-day DL Sunday due to an injured right knee. Sabathia was replaced in the Yankees' rotation by Alfredo Aceves.

Brandon Belt, 1B, San Francisco Giants: He was placed on the 15-day DL Saturday with a broken left thumb that occurred when Belt was hit by a pitch on Friday. Tuesday's surgery will keep him out for six weeks, and Joaquin Arias started at first base on Sunday.

Martin Perez, SP, Texas Rangers: Perez complained of a sore pitching elbow after Saturday's start, but luckily his MRI showed only inflammation and not a tear. Perez will miss at least one start, with Nick Tepesch filling in for him on Wednesday.

Shawn Kelley, RP, Yankees: He hasn't pitched since May 6 because of stiffness in his back but is still considered day-to-day.

Ian Stewart, 3B, Los Angeles Angels: He was placed on the 15-day DL on Monday due to a contusion on his left hand suffered after getting hit by a pitch in Sunday's game. Luis Jimenez was recalled from Triple-A to take Stewart's place on the active roster.

Juan Uribe, 3B, Los Angeles Dodgers: He hasn't played since Thursday because of a strained hamstring that could require a stint on the disabled list. Justin Turner has been filling in at third base in Uribe's absence.

Michael Saunders, OF, Seattle Mariners: Saunders hyperextended his left knee during a defensive play Saturday night and has not started since. He'll be used strictly as a pinch hitter for the next couple of games.

On the mend:

Mark Teixeira, 1B, Yankees: He was unable to start on Monday because of tightness in his left groin, but he's back in the lineup Tuesday as the team's designated hitter.

Ryan Braun, OF, Brewers: He is expected to be activated from the 15-day DL (oblique) on Tuesday when he's first eligible.